The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-13

write my biography, and asked me to
give him for that purpose an account
Of attempts. made during the war to
aseassina,e me.
l told him In that connection, and
for that purpose, that an anonymous
letter of warning had been sent to me
from Philadelphia to the effect that
the Governor OF Pennsylvania had 10
leased from the peniteutiary q motto.
rious convict on condition that he
YOU d 20 to the South and assassinste
me, and II successful he was 10 rscsive
as Q reward $l0j,0OO. Though the let
ter did use the name Of Gov. Curtin, ]
omit cd it In my statement Of the sub.
stance OF the letter, and as the writer
did not state how the money promised
was to be raised, i did not attempt 10
supply the omission. JUDGED, IL was
quite uuimporiant to me whether II
came from secrsl service fund, from
the private purse OF the Governor, OF
was contributed by others who, with
like zsl, smiled the battle from siar
and cried havoc.
The anonymous letter acquired an
importance 10 would not otherwise
have possessed from the fact that
about the time OF its receipt, when
going to my residence at the usua
hour, l saw q man cioucniDg beside
the basement wall OF the palipg oil the
yard fence aud looking insently toward
the gate entrance. Iastsad Of pro-
cseding to the gate, turned aud went
toward the croucning fgure. As he
was approached he arose, hed AID
escaped. The importance thus given
to the anonymous letter induced ne
to inclose 1t TO the Ho1. W. b. Reed,
Of Philadelphia, vi b request tIal
he would make such iLquiry 40 TO him
might he practicable 10 discover the
writer, and to verify or disprove the
statements.
Gov. Curtin's "emphaiic coutradic
ton" OF the accusations against hun
pertains not to ms but TO the writer o.
the letter, who Ia unknown to me, alt
for whom / have not vouched.
The avowal Of Gov. Curtia Of Yea
10 maintain the Government by hon
orable warfare, and tue denial that b,
lever resort d tosuch means for th,
conduct Of ths war;" marx q com
mendable appreciation Of the obliga
lions OF civil war, ard II 10 Q pity tina
there should be anything TO interrupt
the current II his sell lsudalion. Tn,
letter from Wilkesbarfe, already 70
ierred 10, certainly reveals conduc
not very different from that ALLEGED
by the anonymous letter writer. i
thereby app iaIe that Gov. Curtin 70
ceived an application, apparently on
the U-ited sti,es War Department,
for the release from the Pennt ylvsni
Psni,entiary Of Q notorious convict
that he might "be sent over the line
for specific purpose" On this an,
other like representations IL appear
that an order Was ifsued by tho Gov
ernor for toe release OF the coRvict. |
10 not shown thst the Governor knev
or thought proper TO II quiTe for wha
special service the general Of the arm
required q convicted criminal, tina
tns fsct that he was 10 DO EN-
ployrd at the South was enough 1
secure compliancs with the applies
too. t. an avsrsg mind intent upol
"hoI orAbls warfare" the question
would naturally have arten. 70
what proper duty with the army ca
q convict be particularly quAlihed7 Il
the absence OF information on this
point it might bays besn TeasonAb
supposed that the specific purpose
was 10 d. an act which holdie
worthy OF the name Won Z not pei
form. AZ, assinAtion might Terdil
have been supposed 10 be such spec
fc purposs," and the application Tor Q,
lease have bgen postponed Tor iuthe
infoIm .tion, and r,fdsed unless
should bs such 40 would justify c1u
pliapcs by bringing the ''purpose
within the pale 81 honorable waI
fare"
Gov Curtin does not Say whethe
this was the first trans action ri O.
kind between himself and the Unite
\ Atss War Department, bat his read
belief that the forced letters we're gsn
ulne. would indicate that II was not
sur 1rising event.
Ia conclusion, Iiepeat thai, In ota
ing the substance OF the anony MOI
, letter received by ms and lbs attenC
ant circumstances, IL Was not intende
10 accuse or Il suse Gov Curtin; ne
ther was the statement made for
newspaper article, aud condition
precedent for further inve tigatio
, were imposed upIn Ia publita 70
, even In the prop 8 d biography. X
, specially, JrTrKRsos DAVIS.